Success for charity’s hard-working Scottish volunteers
THE GroceryAid Scotland branch has broken through the £100,000 fundraising barrier in a year for the first time ever.
The landmark amount was revealed at a committee meeting in Glasgow last month, which heard of hopes to boost that further in the remaining three months of the financial year.
The volunteers for the charity in Scotland also heard the funds were much needed because of an increasing demand for GroceryAid’s services north of the border.
Colleagues working in the grocery industry can access GroceryAid’s free and confidential financial, emotional and practical services from the first day of their employment.
GroceryAid CEO Kieran Hemsworth revealed the charity had seen a 56% rise year on year in the instances of support in the six months from April to September.
This included a 15% increase in the number of Scottish children who received a £150 School Essentials Grant in June of this year.
He also said there had been a 338% increase in people seeking business debt advice – the charity’s specialist support for the independent retail channel.
Peter Steel, co-chair of the GroceryAid Scotland branch, revealed that the committee would be doing more to connect with independent retail shop workers – many of whom would benefit from access to the support for themselves and their employees.
The Scottish branch raises cash for colleagues in need through a variety of fundraising initiatives.
Its flagship music event, Checkout Scotland, will be returning on 5 September, with the committee hoping to attract more sponsors and a bigger crowd. The 2023 Checkout welcomed 800 colleagues and 49 companies and raised £55,000 for GroceryAid.
Other fundraising initiatives include the Just Dae It campaign, involving supporters taking on various physical and wellbeing activities.
Campaign leaders are focusing on fundraising through the Glasgow Kiltwalk on 28 April.
Cash is also being raised through the raffling of 60 Christmas hampers.
Anyone interested in supporting the events can email peter.steel@groceryaid.org.uk to find out more.
